US Coastguard Cutter USS CHAMPLAIN built by Bethlehem Shipbuilding, Quincy, Mass. The ship was laid down on 23rd May 1923 and launched on 11th October 1928. Build was completed on 24th January 1929; transferred to the Royal Navy on 3rd April 1941 under the 1940 UK/USA Lend/Lease Agreement and renamed HMS SENNEN, when commissioned. She was the first RN ship to bear this name, that of a British Coastguard Station like those given to other US Coastguard Cutters transferred
B a t t l e H o n o u r s
ATLANTIC 1941-43 - NORTH AFRICA 1942-43
H e r a l d i c D a t a
No record of an officially approved Crest is included in the Admiralty Record
of Heraldic Crests but any US Navy Badge will have been used where fitted to
ship’s boats.
D e t a i l s o f W a r S e r v i c e
(for more ship information,
go
to
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and type name in Site Search
1 9 4 1
May Transferred to Royal Navy at New York
12th Commissioned for RN Service.
20th
Took passage from Halifax for Clyde with HM Cutter SENNEN.
June
10th Damaged in collision with drifter ANIMATE in Clyde.
12th Under repair in Clyde shipyard
July On completion Joined Western Approaches Command at Londonderry for convoy escort
8th Sailed from Londonderry to join Convoy HX139.
Nominated for refit in London commercial shipyard
August Passage to London for modifications to suit RN escort duty.
4th Under modification in Thames shipyard.
(Note: Depth Charge equipment fitted comprised four Throwers and two sets of Rails.)
30th Rejoined Western Approaches at Londonderry.
Nominated fro escort of OS Series convoys to West Africa and return SL Series convoys
to Liverpool.
31st Sailed with HM Cutters GORLESTON, HARTLAND and LULWORTH for escort of Convoy
OS4 to Bathurst
Detached from OS4 to join military convoy WS11 with HMS TOTLAND as part of Ocean
Escort during passage to Freetown.
September
4th Detached with HMS TOTLAND and HM Indian Sloop SUTLEJ to join SLOW Section of WS11
as escort during passage to Freetown when WS11 divided.
15th Detached from WS11 Slow on arrival at Freetown and took passage to Gibraltar as escort for
two tankers.
October Passage to UK from Gibraltar.
28th Under refit at Belfast for fit of additional equipment.
November
14th On completion rejoined Western Approaches at Londonderry.
Joined 42nd Escort Group with HMS GORLESTON and HMS TOTLAND for escort of convoys
between UK and West Africa.
(For details of tactics and weapons used during Atlantic convoy defence see SEEK AND
STRIKE by W Hackmann, THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by D Macintyre, U-BOAT WAR
IN THE ATLANTIC and HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair.)
Escorted outward Convoy OS12 to Freetown with HMS TOTLAND.
December Escorted return Convoy SL95 to UK with HMS TOTLAND and later by HMS GORLESTON.
1 9 4 2
January Deployed as escort for outward Convoy OS17 to Freetown with HM Cutters GORLESTON,
HARTLAND and TOTLAND to Freetown.
February Deployed as escort for return Convoy SL10 with HMS GORLESTON and HMS TOTLAND.
March Escorted outward Convoy OS 22 with HM Cutters GORLE3TON, HARTLAND and TOTLAND.
April Escorted return Convoy SL106 with HMS GORLESTON and HMS TOTLAND.
Nominated for refit after arrival in UK
May Passage to Hull.
4th Under refit at Hull.
(Note: Radar Type 271 for surface warning and Type 286M were fitted.
For details see RADAR AT SEA by D Howse.)
June Under refit.
29th On completion rejoined 42nd Escort Group at Londonderry.
July Deployed at Londonderry with 45th Escort Group.
August Escorted outward Convoy OS39.
September Escorted return Convoy SL1213 to UK.
October Transferred for escort duty with military convoys to North Africa for allied landings
(Operation TORCH).
(Note: For details see The Naval Staff History, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY
by C. Barnett and for information about all mercantiles and warships involved
BRITISH INVASION FLEETS by J de Winser.)
November Deployed with escort for Convoy KMF2 to Algiers with HM Cutter BANFF arriving on 11th.
Escorted return Convoy MKF2 to UK.
December Deployment for defence of convoys to and from Gibraltar.
1 9 4 3
January Continued Gibraltar convoy defence.
23rd Escorted return Convoy MKS6 during passage to Clyde.
February Transferred to 1st Escort Group for Atlantic convoy support and defence.
March Passage from Dakar to UK
April Deployed for convoy defence in North Atlantic with Group EG1 operating in the support role.
See above references.
15th Deployed with HM Sloop PELICAN, HM Frigates JED,
WEAR and SPEY for support of
escorts of Atlantic convoys when under threat of attack by U-Boat Groups.
Provided additional support to Convoy ONS4 which was escorted by ships of Escort Group
B2 and under attack by MEISE Group of U-Boats.
Air cover was being provided by HM Escort Carrier BITER.
(Note: This was the first participation of an Escort Carrier in sinking of a U-Boat.
U203 was sunk by HMS PATHFINDER after attack by SWORDFISH aircraft from HMS
BITER
The convoy arrived in Canadian waters without loss.
For details of the transit of ONS4 see U-Boat WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO),
HITLER’S U BOAT WAR and THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by D Macintyre.)
26th Supported passage of Convoy SC12Twhich avoided attacks by AMSEL Group of U Boats.
May Sailed from St Johns for support of Convoys CN84 and ONS5 with HM Sloop PELICAN, HM
Frigates JED, WEAR and SPEY
6th Carried out Made gun attack on surfaced U267 which was able to escape with damage.
19th Took part in sinking of U954 with HM Frigate JED in defence of convoy.
(Note: There were no survivors from U954 amongst whom was Leutnant Zur Zee Peter Donitz,
son of Grosssadmiral Karl Donitz.)
This submarine sinking was previously credited to Liberator T aircraft of 120 Squadron
RAF, but post war analysis showed the U-Boat attacked by this aircraft was U753 which
escaped. See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.)
20th Deployed with ships of 1st Support Group in support of passage of Convoy SC130 under
attack by U-Boats of the ODER Group.
Carried out attack in U209 with HMS JED using HEDGEHOG mortar and avoided torpedo
attack by submarine.
June Nominated for escort duty in Indian Ocean.
Under refit at Grimsby for service with Eastern Fleet.
July
Carried out post refit trials on completion of shipyard work.
August Deployed at Tobermory to work-up for operational service.
September
14th Sailed for passage to Kilindini through Mediterranean after call at Gibraltar.
October Passage in Indian Ocean
26th Joined Kilindini Escort Force.
November Deployed for convoy defence between Kilindini and Aden.
Escorted Convoy DKA4 to Aden and returned with Convoy AKD6 with HMS LANDGUARD.
Escorted Convoy DKA7 to Aden with HMS LANDGUARD.
Escorted returning Convoy AKD11A with
HMS BANFF and HMS LANDGUARD.
1 9 4 4
January Deployed at Kilindini.
February Escorted Convoy DKA12 to Aden.
March Escorted returning Convoy AKD17
April Deployed at Kilindini for convoy defence.
May
11th Under repair at Diego Suarez.
15th On completion rejoined Escort Force at Kilindini.
June Escorted Convoy OM5(?) to Aden.
July Passage to Kilindini.
August Deployed at Kilindini for convoy defence..
September Escorted Convoy CM58 from Durban to Kilindini.
29th Under repair at Durban.
30th Repair work completed,
October Passage to Capetown for refit.
10th Under refit
(Note: During this refit a British 4in mounting and additional 40mm weapons were fitted
to improve close range defence.)
November Under refit.
to
December
1 9 4 5
January Under refit
to
March
April
15th On completion of post refit trials took passage to Trincomalee
May Deployed at Trincomalee for defence of convoys in Bay of Bengal,
(Note: Extensive convoy traffic was in progress to support occupation of Rangoon
See WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO) and THE FORGOTTEN FLEET by J Winton.)
June Deployed for convoy defence in Bay of Bengal.
July Nominated for escort of assault convoys for planned landing in Malaya (Operation ZIPPER.)
to (Note These landings were delayed due to |US insistence and implementation of the PYTHON
August Scheme to repatriate long serving personnel from service in SEAC. See above references
and the Final Report of the Supreme Commander SEAC (HMSO)
Passage to Madras for escort of assault convoy to landing area near Port Swettenham.
September
1st Sailed from Madras as part of escort for Convoy JME15 during passage to Beach Head
9th Detached from JME15 on arrival and deployed for support of operations in Indian Ocean and
Dutch East Indies.
P o s t W a r N o t e s
HMS SENNEN remained in the Indian Ocean after VJ-Day until 16th December 1945 when she returned to UK from Aden. The ship arrived at Chatham on 16th January 1946 and after de-storing and completion of repair she took passage for Boston for returned to the US Coastguard Service. She Paid off at Boston on 20th March and later that year resumed coastguard service as USS CHAMPLAIN. This ship was sold on 25th March 1948 after being taken out of US Coastguard service.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS SENNEN
by Don Kindell
These convoy lists have not been cross-checked with the text above
|
|
|
|
|
Date convoy sailed
|
Joined convoy
as escort
|
Convoy No. |
Left convoy
|
Date convoy arrived
|
|
|
|
|
|
18/05/41
|
18/05/41
|
BHX 128
|
20/05/41
|
27/05/41
|
20/05/41
|
20/05/41
|
HX 128
|
06/06/41
|
06/06/41
|
07/07/41
|
07/07/41
|
OB 344
|
16/07/41
|
16/07/41
|
16/07/41
|
18/07/41
|
HX 139
|
29/07/41
|
31/07/41
|
23/08/41
|
31/08/41
|
OS 004
|
09/09/41
|
11/09/41
|
05/10/41
|
21/10/41
|
SL 089
|
unknown
|
26/10/41
|
18/11/41
|
19/11/41
|
OS 012
|
08/12/41
|
11/12/41
|
12/12/41
|
15/12/41
|
SL 095
|
31/12/41
|
31/12/41
|
18/01/42
|
21/01/42
|
OS 017
|
05/02/42
|
07/02/42
|
09/02/42
|
11/02/42
|
SL 100
|
03/03/42
|
04/03/42
|
13/03/42
|
14/03/42
|
OS 022
|
01/04/42
|
01/04/42
|
09/04/42
|
09/04/42
|
SL 106
|
29/04/42
|
02/05/42
|
15/07/42
|
30/07/42
|
SL 116
|
03/08/42
|
04/08/42
|
29/08/42
|
31/08/42
|
OS 039
|
16/09/42
|
18/09/42
|
23/09/42
|
23/09/42
|
SL 123
|
14/10/42
|
14/10/42
|
01/11/42
|
01/11/42
|
KMF 002
|
12/11/42
|
12/11/42
|
15/11/42
|
15/11/42
|
MKF 002
|
22/11/42
|
23/11/42
|
10/12/42
|
12/12/42
|
MKF 004
|
18/12/42
|
18/12/42
|
07/01/43
|
08/01/43
|
KMS 007G
|
18/01/43
|
21/01/43
|
19/01/43
|
23/01/43
|
MKS 006
|
01/02/43
|
01/02/43
|
14/02/43
|
15/02/43
|
OS 043
|
04/03/43
|
04/03/43
|
12/03/43
|
12/03/43
|
SL 126
|
02/04/43
|
01/04/43
|
16/04/43
|
24/04/43
|
SC 127
|
25/04/43
|
03/05/43
|
13/04/43
|
26/04/43
|
ONS 004
|
28/04/43
|
05/05/43
|
21/04/43
|
06/05/43
|
ONS 005
|
08/05/43
|
12/05/43
|
11/05/43
|
19/05/43
|
SC 130
|
22/05/43
|
26/05/43
|
18/09/43
|
18/09/43
|
KMS 026
|
29/09/43
|
29/09/43
|
10/10/43
|
10/10/43
|
AKD 003
|
20/10/43
|
29/10/43
|
16/10/43
|
28/10/43
|
DKA 004
|
05/11/43
|
05/11/43
|
11/11/43
|
11/11/43
|
AKD 006
|
20/11/43
|
29/11/43
|
16/11/43
|
28/11/43
|
DKA 007
|
07/12/43
|
07/12/43
|
12/12/43
|
12/12/43
|
AKD 009
|
21/12/43
|
21/12/43
|
09/01/44
|
16/01/44
|
AKD 011A
|
23/01/44
|
23/01/44
|
05/02/44
|
05/02/44
|
KR 008
|
11/02/44
|
14/02/44
|
21/02/44
|
21/02/44
|
DKA 012
|
01/03/44
|
01/03/44
|
05/03/44
|
05/03/44
|
AKD 017
|
14/03/44
|
23/03/44
|
22/03/44
|
06/04/44
|
DKA 016
|
12/04/44
|
12/04/44
|
05/06/44
|
09/06/44
|
CM 054
|
11/06/44
|
11/06/44
|
14/06/44
|
14/06/44
|
AK 010/2
|
27/06/44
|
27/06/44
|
25/07/44
|
25/07/44
|
CM 057
|
01/08/44
|
01/08/44
|
18/08/44
|
18/08/44
|
AK 012/2
|
25/08/44
|
25/08/44
|
27/08/44
|
27/08/44
|
MC 012
|
03/09/44
|
03/09/44
|
12/09/44
|
13/09/44
|
CM 058
|
20/09/44
|
20/09/44
|
06/05/45
|
06/05/45
|
KRS 001/
|
08/05/45
|
08/05/45
|
16/05/45
|
16/05/45
|
KRS 005/
|
19/05/45
|
19/05/45
|
30/05/45
|
30/05/45
|
KRF 007/
|
02/06/45
|
02/06/45
|
01/07/45
|
01/07/45
|
KR 014/1
|
03/07/45
|
03/07/45
|
12/07/45
|
12/07/45
|
RK 011/1
|
14/07/45
|
16/07/45
|
26/07/45
|
26/07/45
|
KR 022A/
|
28/07/45
|
28/07/45
|
(Note on Convoys)